Urban park visitor perceptions of climate change: beliefs, concerns and support for action

Abstract

This study examined urban park visitors’ concerns, beliefs, decision to visit, and support for management actions regarding climate change. A questionnaire was administered to 429 visitors at three city-owned parks in a Midwestern community in the United States, yielding a 46.4% response rate (n = 199). Overall, results showed participants were concerned about the impacts of climate change and were supportive of managerial actions aimed at mitigating its impacts. We found that tick and mosquito-borne diseases were most likely to impact visitation. Recycling bins received the highest support for mitigating the impacts of climate change. Additionally, we observed differences across various demographics, such as non-white visitors being more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change while making trip decisions, and low-income visitors being more likely to choose incorrect climate change causations. We suggest that urban visitors can offer some important managerial insights for addressing climate change impacts.